The Candle :
Taper candles (which is wha I am using as an example for this) typically burn for 1 hour per inch of candle wax. So, a normal taper candle (which is approximately 10 - 12 inches) should burn for about 10 -12 hours. Temperatures, humidity, and elevation can cause the burn time of the candle(s) to vary, however.
If you were doing a 7 day spell, you will need to burn your candle for 7 days, with the 7th and final day being on the night of the full moon (if you are also adding moon phases into the mix, but this is not mandatory - again just another example). The idea being that the energy put into the spell work to strengthen the power of your spell.
Candle & Burn Time Per Day : - This is generally the times I use for mine, when working candle magic over several days.
- Day 1 - Approximately 2 hours
- Day 2 - Approximately 2 hours
- Day 3 - Approximately 2 hours
- Day 4 - Approximately 2 hours
- Day 5 - Approximately 2 hours
- Day 6 - Approximately 1 hour
- Day 7 - Approximately 1 hour
Source for Candle Burn Time
http://www.shinodadesigncenter.net/2012/11/19/tip-of-the-day-how-long-will-a-taper-candle-burn-2/
So all that said, as far as how long to burn your candle goes, are you looking to do a quick candle spell or are you seeking to do something that you would need to stretch out over a few days? Look at what your need and desired goal is and then base your candle burning off of that. Is it something small that does not require a lot of energy (and candle), or is it something larder that would require you to burn more candle(s) during the growing and empowerment of the spell? If I am doing a spell for luck, I use one candle and allow it to burn down. If it is something for employment or to bring me favorable odds in an endeavor, I use more candles or allow them to burn for a longer period of time. I base the use of my candles off of the need that I have at the time.
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